Travel writing: some of Northland's best cold volcanoes to climb
How many volcanoes have you climbed since Monday? Up the top of the country, you could do a volcano a day for a week and never get burned or frostbit. Yes, what Northland lacks in snowy peaks, it makes up for in rocky volcanic knobs (long-since cooled, we can assure you). The peninsula is the country’s most-remote region and is decorated with prominent stone mountains in bizarre shapes, and lain with well-maintained tracks to the top.
The best part of it all: each peak is climbable in less than two hours return and – considering Northland’s gentle subtropical weather – views are reliable.
From Bald Rock to Paul’s Rock
Why not begin your journey through Tai Tokerau at Volcano 1, the landmark 238m Bald Rock in Kaiwaka, 90 minutes north of Auckland. Carry on another two hours north along SH1 and you’ll get to Whangaroa Harbour. There, the perfectly bell-shaped St Paul’s Rock (volcano 2) is at the top of Old Hospital Road above Whangaroa’s quaint seaside village. It’s less than one kilometre from the car park to the top of this volcanic dome. Across the water, if you can make it over there, is volcanic remnant number 3, Duke’s Nose, described as “Tolkienesque” by the local newspaper.
Whangarei Heads: three volcanoes for the price of one
Your next cold volcanic cone, Mt Manaia, sticks out on Whangarei Heads like a collection of candlesticks. From some directions, this andesitic agglomerate volcano resembles a human face; from other directions, you’ll see bagpipes, a birthday cake or a castle. Manaia – a hugely popular two hour return climb to 420m – is sacred to local iwi Ngātiwai. The craggy peaks represent ancient tribesman Manaia, whose family were turned to stone in a dispute over the infidelity of Manaia’s wife.
The same volcanic magma pipes which crafted Manaia are responsible for the rocky knobs of cold cauldrons Mt Aubrey (215m) and the epic Bream Head (490m) and Mt Lion (395m) – all of which are within a 15 minute drive from Manaia.
These are volcanoes 4-6 in your week’s journey. Each of these mighty peaks is walkable within a morning or afternoon, though you can expect some 45 degree climbs.
Don’t forget Dargaville’s volcanoes
Maungaraho is a shark fin of solidified magma that was once the plug of Tokatoka Volcano which erupted nearly 20 million years ago. To climb to its trig point, you’ll need to haul yourself up chains for the upper half of the 30 minute climb. To get to Maungaraho, just drive 20 minutes south of Dargaville along State Highway 12 then turn onto Mititai Road.
The second part of volcano 7 is just up the road. Tokatoka is a needle of a mountain, just 180 metres high. It’s a far sharper, pointer version of its sibling. The difference is at the bottom of this one, the Tokatoka Tavern awaits.
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Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?
Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.
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27.8% I love it!
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31.6% Only in designated areas
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40.6% No, it should be outdoors only.
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Rubbish bins
I posted a message about the disappearing rubbish bins in Whangarei a week or so ago (but I limited the area). However, I’ll leave this open to a wider area this time. Apparently this is not just limited to Whangarei. However, I went to the Whangarei District Council website, and sent a general enquiry email as to why this was happening. About a week later, I did get a phone call back. I had mentioned two particular bins that had been removed. The man I spoke with was not aware they had been removed! What I found out is that the rubbish bins are emptied by an outside contractor, not city workers. They come and say they find maybe a single coffee cup in a bin and think the bin doesn’t need to be there, so THEY remove the bin! The more I thought about this, the more I thought this is pure laziness - the more bins removed, the less work that has to be done. How much effort does it take to look in a bin and see the liner does not need to be changed? Where one bin has been removed, there is now rubbish in it’s place. I noticed the bins at a couple of bus stops have also been removed, and there is rubbish on the ground - exactly where the bins used to be! I have been told that one of the bins I emailed about will be replaced. And I will follow up on that if it isn’t back in place in two weeks. (This outside contractor is also supposed to be picking up rubbish twice a week along the Kamo shared pathway as well!)
So - if you noticed bins are missing and they need to be put back, send an email to WDC and tell them the location and that there is rubbish there and the bin needs to be replaced! Rate payers are paying for this service, no doubt.
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